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I don't know if it's just me, but I'm getting this impression that Lin Dan is starting to resemble David Beckham a bit; with that combed back brown hair, mustache, tattoos..

He had fulfilled all his obligations to his country and beyond, he is free to release himself whereas LCW still has a mountain at his back. I don' think LCW will beat LD ever again in any major, may be in LCW'S retirement match.

He had fulfilled all his obligations to his country and beyond, he is free to release himself whereas LCW still has a mountain at his back. I don' think LCW will beat LD ever again in any major, may be in LCW'S retirement match.

You may be right, assuming you consider AG, WC, OLY, TC and SC as majors. Add in AE for old timers' sake as major too.
That is because LD may not play AG, WC, AE next year. OLY is 3 years away and who knows what condition will LCW be? Too long to even think about it now. If LD starts playing in 2013, that may be an indication that LD is looking to gain ranking points to qualify for RIO and to try a 3-peat.
TC and SC, even if LD plays, he will not meet LCW due to his ranking.
So, 'I don't think LCW will beat LD ever again in any major' may have some merit

You may be right, assuming you consider AG, WC, OLY, TC and SC as majors. Add in AE for old timers' sake as major too.
That is because LD may not play AG, WC, AE next year. OLY is 3 years away and who knows what condition will LCW be? Too long to even think about it now. If LD starts playing in 2013, that may be an indication that LD is looking to gain ranking points to qualify for RIO and to try a 3-peat.
TC and SC, even if LD plays, he will not meet LCW due to his ranking.
So, 'I don't think LCW will beat LD ever again in any major' may have some merit

Trying to get into LD's head, I believe he will play the next WC, as for OLY, there is 51% that he will play.

BTW is there a reason why LD often plays relatively few tournaments vacating the 1 spot to LCW? I mean he won a ton of big tournament so he can probably live with LWC having more weeks at #1 than he has and he is probably doing that to save energy for the big tournaments but at least in the non olympic years he could play the full tour and take the #1 ranking back, couldn't he? sorry if that question sounds basic, I'm quite new to the sport.

LD is not interested in winning more tournaments, especially the minors ones. He has won so many majors that world ranking now appears of least interest to him. It was reported that his priority now is his family. Hopefully he can become a father soon.

However, if he decides to participate in the WC or the Rio Olympics, he has to start entering more high level tournaments to earn more ranking points in order to qualify. I believe he also has to fulfil his commercial obligations to his sponsors, etc.

BTW is there a reason why LD often plays relatively few tournaments vacating the 1 spot to LCW? I mean he won a ton of big tournament so he can probably live with LWC having more weeks at #1 than he has and he is probably doing that to save energy for the big tournaments but at least in the non olympic years he could play the full tour and take the #1 ranking back, couldn't he? sorry if that question sounds basic, I'm quite new to the sport.

What Loh said, plus there're also many tournaments within China that Chinese players have to compete in, so especially playing in singles which is more taxing physically, LD chooses to go only for the major international tournaments.

Watching Lin Dan vs Du Peng Yu in China National Games made me realise that LD has reach a new level of game. The slow Lin Dan is even more lethal than the rapid fire LD of old. The way he made Du run while he effortlessly move around the court should make all contenders wary. As long LYB feels LD can whip Du, CL, and WZM asses, he will make sure LD qualifies for OLY 16.That's why he is not out in many tournaments. He is already milking money from his sponsorship and retirement money from Govt for the two golds he won. LYB is making sure that LD body is not overworked and making him peak at the right time. LCW on the other hand does not have that luxury, the back up are no where near his standard and the Msian govt has not guarantee his future income so he needs to play in more tournaments. There is also obligation to play in tournaments his sponsor sponsors. We havnt seen the last of LD yet.